Independent owners of branded supermarkets such as IGA, Supa IGA and Foodworks are at risk if the NSW Government’s proposed Draft Centres Policy goes ahead, according to national employer industry association, Master Grocers Australia.

The proposal would see large shopping centres being built away from existing centres in New South Wales which, suggests MGA, could result in Woolworths and Coles gaining greater market share. 

Jos de Bruin, CEO of MGA, said If the Draft Centres Policy is implemented it has the potential to destroy the livehlihood of hundreds of small shopping centres, where independent supermarkets and other small businesses have made a major contribution to their local communities for years.

In NSW there are 385 independently owned, branded supermarkets employing more than 13,700 full time, part time and casual staff, representing $2.7 billion in retail sales.